When Microsoft first announced the Zune
HD, one of the things that left many of us scratching our heads was
the fact that the portable media device wouldn't
launch with a 64GB option. At the time, it was well hypothesized
that the third generation iPod touch would ship with such an option
-- it
did -- leaving Microsoft without an effective counterpunch.

Six months after the Zune
HD launch, it now appears that Microsoft is finally getting
around to adding a 64GB model to its Zune HD lineup. Engadget
got word that a link to the 64GB model has been added to the
official
Zune website. However, the link is currently not active meaning
that Microsoft probably isn't quite ready to make an official
announcement.

Current MSRPs for the 16GB and 32GB
Zune HDs are $219 and $289 respectively, although retailers like
Amazon.com have them listed for a low $169
and $239
respectively. For comparison, Apple's 32GB and 64GB third generation
iPod touch models feature MSRPs of $299 ($258)
and $399 ($343).

And yet Microsoft does relatively well in such a market if Windows and the Xbox 360 is anything to go by, our economy is strong (We didn't go into recession for starters), we get a good average wage and our population is booming. (Estimated to be about 40-50 million by 2056)

That and products that are sold in Australia are also sold in New Zealand so that's an additional 4-5 million people on top.

Microsoft is a for-profit company, any market, if they can make a sale they should chase it, if they sell half a million units that's still added revenue in the pot.

Then you have scale of economics, if Microsoft sells a product in say 10 countries with populations of around say... 20 million that's still 200 million people that the product is trying to be sold to, still wanna' skip all those countries with relatively small populations? Add them all up, and they exceed even the largest of counties.

Except the fatal flaw in your proposition is that not all of those people will purchase the product, especially with the competition coming from Apple. Marketing campaigns are very expensive, Microsoft isn't going to launch 10 marketing campaigns just for the privilege for selling to 200 million people.

They have to be able to sell a significant quantity of units to make a profit. Not to mention needing to hire lawyers to write EULA and licensing agreements as it relates to Music, Video, WiFi, their App Store, etc. Not to mention the staff at MS itself they need to oversee operations in 10 more countries... It all adds up to a huge expense and a huge headache to maybe sell a few million devices.

Just sayin', its not just a simple easy process, or they would be for sale everywhere from day one.

And anyway, there's the internet. If you really wanted one, there are plenty of options. So don't make it sound like your sitting on the edge of your seat just waiting for the Zune HD to show up at your local electronics store.

quote: Except the fatal flaw in your proposition is that not all of those people will purchase the product, especially with the competition coming from Apple.

And what, everyone in America is going to buy it? Lol, please.

quote: Marketing campaigns are very expensive, Microsoft isn't going to launch 10 marketing campaigns just for the privilege for selling to 200 million people.

No they don't, just place some posters up where the product is being sold very much like the Xbox 360, and let people do the rest, I don't think I can ever remember seeing an Xbox or Windows advertisement here, either on TV or Radio.And yet the Xbox has sold over 1 million units, whilst the Wii is sitting around the 1.8 million mark, so they both are doing well in there own right.

Plus I think you are under-estimating Microsoft's pure brand name power, it's a house hold name almost world wide.

However, none of this matters, the Zune is coming to Australia, just been a long time coming, so they obviously see a market here and elsewhere.

quote: Just sayin', its not just a simple easy process, or they would be for sale everywhere from day one.

Or a more logical explanation is that instead of spending BILLIONS of dollars launching a new product world wide, they would start by making the Zune a USA only product then slowly expand it's presence depending on Market reaction? Makes more sense and explains the slight product release delay for Canada, Europe and Japan.

quote: And anyway, there's the internet. If you really wanted one, there are plenty of options. So don't make it sound like your sitting on the edge of your seat just waiting for the Zune HD to show up at your local electronics store.

Except, half the "Features" wouldn't function here, and I really shouldn't have to import anything to get a product like that.

Why are you blaming Microsoft for this ? You of all people should be well aware of Australia's anti-capitalist anti-trade policies. There are SEVERAL products that the rest of the world take for granted that still aren't available in Australia, and when they are, cost significantly more in Australia.

This whole thread is retarded. Please do some research on your own country.

quote: Because they have been slow to release a product world wide? As a consumer, I have every right to complain. :)

By that logic so was Nintendo with the Wii. I know in self-centered fantasy land, where you apparently live, real world considerations don't get a second thought. But maybe, just MAYBE, there is a limit to just how fast a new product can be produced in bulk for the entire planet?

quote: Oh please, Australia is one of the most Laissez-faire capitalistic countries in the world. (Means Industry's are relatively free from state intervention).

Yeah until someone tries bringing something INTO Australia. Research your own country.

quote: And we have several products locally here that are not available else-where or aren't as prevalent, like Vegemite and the Holden Commodore, and Aussie rules footy'.

Ok, instead of conceding I made a point, you deflect it with this meaningless response. Has NOTHING to do with the topic.

quote: I know in self-centered fantasy land, where you apparently live, real world considerations don't get a second thought. But maybe, just MAYBE, there is a limit to just how fast a new product can be produced in bulk for the entire planet?

I'm sorry, there is a BIG difference between a few weeks/months that most products are launched, to SEVERAL YEARS, I could have had a child and got it to walk and talk in the time Microsoft decided to launch the Zune here, that in itself is pathetic, so they indeed had PLENTY of time, or are you to incompetent to realize this?

quote: Yeah until someone tries bringing something INTO Australia. Research your own country.

We have free trade agreements, bringing something into Australia isn't as much of a drama as you think it is.

quote: Ok, instead of conceding I made a point, you deflect it with this meaningless response. Has NOTHING to do with the topic.

There was a point to it all, seems it went in one ear and out the other, so I'll place it in black and white so you can understand.

My Point was: Some things aren't available in Australia, yes, but also some things that are available here aren't available in the US. - See? Wasn't that simple? Or do I need to simplify it more so?

And lastly, you still don't understand the differences between a world-wide company like Microsoft to a company that deals in only a single country like Newegg or Amazon, which is what I have attempted to point out in my last 2 posts.

Australia, Canada, we're both in the same spot...I mean come on Microsoft. It's as easy as slapping French instructions on the box and brining it over the 49th for us! You don't even need to tack on French for Australia too.

quote: Well there are lots of audiphole phonies running around claiming MP3 is "lossy" and it doesn't sound as good. That's only true if you are dealing with a very low bitrate file.

It's not a claim. MP3 is a lossy format .Whether you or I can hear the difference between them is irrelevant. Some people can. There was a time that I could, but my ears are not as good as they were a few years ago.

Actually it's very relevant. It's the crux of the entire issue. The "loss" in high bitrate MP3's are sounds completely 100% inaudible to the human ear. That's a fact.

Because here is the deal, FLAC files are huge. A FLAC file is only about 20% smaller than the .WAV file it was converted from. So one must ask the question, if you demand compromised audio quality, why not just use .WAV files ?

quote: Cowon's stuff though sounds great. No one seems to get the EQ right but them. Apple? Start using the EQ and it goes to crap.

But an active EQ can be very battery intensive. I personally feel that an EQ doesn't have much use except to compensate for poor quality players, headphones, and environments. Messing with frequencies doesn't allow you to listen to music the way the artist intended.

Cowon's players sound great as is, plus they put in very powerful amps. Their D2 can go for two days playing music with BBE and the EQ on. Their EQ enhancements are no gimmicks. I know because I have one.

Today it seems the RIAA sets the sound level until the stupid song is 100% compressed. Regardless, the artist can't compensate for as you said, your particular headphones/speakers/etc, so I would simply eq it to your tastes.

I don't doubt they make good stuff. Too bad they fly so low under the radar ! Most ppl probably don't know they exist. Sort of like iRiver, but they have fallen off lately in my opinion. 8 and 16 gigs just isn't cutting it anymore iRiver, get a clue please !

quote: Today it seems the RIAA sets the sound level until the stupid song is 100% compressed.

Compression is when you make quiet sounds sound louder and louder sounds sound quieter, so as to compress all the sound into one level. They then take it and raise the overall volume, and you get this (for example):

False. You might not be able to tell the difference on your POS $100 5.1 theater in a box set-up from Best Buy, but if you have a decent set-up and ear, the difference is easy to detect, even with 320k MP3s.

quote: False. You might not be able to tell the difference on your POS $100 5.1 theater in a box set-up from Best Buy, but if you have a decent set-up and ear, the difference is easy to detect, even with 320k MP3s.

Nope, sorry this has been disproved by double blind comparisons. People, even audio experts, could not tell the difference between a CD and a high quality MP3.

This reminds me of the study done by people swearing "Monster Cables" sounded better. So they compared a Monster Cable with an unfolded clothes hanger with RCA's soldered on each end. Guess which one most people, even "audiophiles" claimed sounded better ? Yup, the coat hanger.

quote: Canada doesn't have the ZuneHD, MS gave our market the finger with the HD. Microsoft launched a great product and then mega-failed to sell it to the other 6.5B people that have access to the iPod.

I'm aware of that, sucks pretty hard! Still you got the original Zune at least, which is more than we have had yet. :PStill, things might change, you guys might eventually get the Zune HD yet.